Hailed by many as one of Nashville’s best contemporary songwriters, Gretchen Peters’ intelligent and introspective songs have been covered by pop, country, blues and folk artists all over the world. When hit recording artists look for songs that are smart, witty, emotional and real, they often look to Gretchen Peters. She possesses a rare ability to drive a strong point, yet capture it eloquently in song. That ability has won Peters Grammy nominations for the heart-wrenching Patty Loveless hit, “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am,” as well as Martina McBride’s award-winning recording of “Independence Day,” an in-your-face look at domestic violence. While Gretchen’s own versions of her best known songs may not be widely played on U.S. radio, the marketing machines driving the music industry today owe a lot to Peters. She has sold millions of records over the past decade, as stars Faith Hill, Bonnie Raitt, Martina McBride, Etta James, The Neville Brothers, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Bryan Adams, Patty Loveless, Billy Ray Cyrus, Pam Tillis, Neil Diamond and a host of others have covered her songs. In a review of her most recent album, Gretchen Peters, The Associated Press says of Peters’ music; “This is not jukebox music - the stuff that exists to fill in the pauses in conversation. This IS the conversation.” She is a writer who’s never afraid of real life – and it’s that fearlessness that allows her to write with startling clarity about the moments most people sweep under the carpet. Peters sometimes sees her career as an ever-evolving lesson in tenacity. In 1996, her auspicious recording debut was cut short by the folding of her record label, only to have several songs from her first album, The Secret Of Life, covered by some of today’s hottest acts. Gretchen has regularly toured in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe to sold out crowds and, with the upcoming European re-release of Gretchen Peters and The Secret of Life (both with bonus tracks), her music will again be available worldwide. Gretchen was nominated this year for a Golden Globe award for her work on the DreamWorks animated film, “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”, and her multi-award winning "Independence Day" has just been included in CMT's list of The Top 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music. She is currently working on her third studio album and preparing a much requested live CD for release later in 2003.